Malawi needs experience not young blood -Chilumpha

Former vice president Dr Cassim Chilumpha said the economic and political problems caused by the Mutharika administration need people with expertise and experience in government to be in the leadership frame.

Chilumpha said times for experimenting leaders are gone since it has been proven that the tendency has done bad things for the country.

“These problems need people with vast experience and not those who have never had senior leadership positions in the country,” said Chilumpha who has served various ministerial positions including Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Water and Minister of Justice.

Chilumpha (L) and Jumbe at the rally

“You don’t just wake up and think you can do away with those you say are old and replace them with the young ones?” he told a public rally in Nkhotakota.

Chilumpha said former president Bakili Muluzi said his government managed to handle the country’s economy and politics better than the Mutharika administration because it had experienced leaders.

He also attacked former president Muluzi for “mere family advertisement” in allowing his son, Machinga North East MP, Atupele Muluzi to bid for the top seat.

But said if the deputy UDF leader in parliament gets the nod of the convention to be the party presidential candidate in a democratic manner, the Friday Jumbe faction will be “ready to work with him.”

On his take, Jumbe said Malawians are suffering because of the selfish leadership of Mutharika government that does not want to listen to advice.

“Had it been that the president had been listening to what people have been suggesting as solution, we could have never been in this mess,” said Jumbe.

The former Finance Minister accused Mutharika of being obstinate.

“He could have just asked some of us but unfortunately, he thinks he is the only one who has the monopoly of wisdom,” Jumbe said.